Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I saw a kingsnake at the petstore that was banded like a grey banded, but had a yellowish base color, what kind is it? Thanks.

I do not have a picture....though I could go get one. :]

Too many likely possibilities simply from the description. A good photo would really be needed to even hazard an ID.

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Mmm yeah, idk. It's just like a greybanded with the orange/black stripes, but yellow instead of grey area...-shrug-. I'll drop by the store soon...

If it isn't the product of somebody's weird hybrid project, I'm sure if you get a photo it can be very accurately ID'd here. I have specialized in milks and kings for many years.

regards, ~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Doubting it, I was going to google a few images of the type of snake to see what fits the best. Still pending the picture from the pet store!

ASK the petshop what kind of snake it is!!! Not trying to be flip about it, but most likely they will/should know what the heck they are selling. If it is just labled "kingsnake" and they dont know, then its anyones quess if the animal is a pure species or a hybrid/mix of species. My initial thoughts based on your description is its a variable or thayeri kingsnake. Still, even with a picture its hard to tell or be sure with these "petshop" snakes. They just buy whats cool looking or available at a good price and really give two farts about genetics or purity. Heck, the big chains here simply lable their non-normal cornsnakes as "Fancy" corns. About the only thing you can be sure of is that they are corns. Exactly what morph with the various similar looking morphs is all but impossible IMO.

Thanks a lot for your two cents. It helped the most.
I definitely agree, petshops do have random things and most of the time don't even keep their animals like they should. It's a surprise they're alive and healthy sometimes.

It is definitely either a Thayer or variable Kingsnake. Not even going to ask the guy. If he knew, it would of been labeled correctly.

>>Mmm yeah, idk. It's just like a greybanded with the orange/black stripes, but yellow instead of grey area...-shrug-. I'll drop by the store soon...

I think part of the problem is that we can't understand your description. Gray-banded Kingsnakes aren't striped (normally). They are gray with orange bands/blotches that have black borders.

Do you mean it has yellowish where the graybands have gray? If so, it could be a "buckskin" phase thayeri. Take a look at some of the photos here - http://www.mountainkings.com/holdbacksale.html.

Chris
-----
Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas